Discuss the salient features of the Harappan Architecture. (150 words) upsc mains 2025 GS1 Model answers

 

1. Discuss the salient features of the Harappan Architecture. (150 words)

The Harappan Civilization (2500–1750 BCE), also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, displayed remarkable architectural planning and execution, reflecting urban sophistication and civic sense.

Salient Features of Harappan Architecture

1. Urban Planning:
• Cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro followed a grid pattern, with streets cutting at right angles.
• Clear division into Citadel (western, elevated) and Lower Town (eastern, residential).
2. Building Materials:
• Standardized baked bricks (ratio 1:2:4), mud bricks, and stone in some sites.
• Use of gypsum and lime for plastering.
3. Public Architecture:
• Great Bath (Mohenjo-Daro): A water tank with staircases, waterproof brick lining, and drainage—suggesting ritual use.
• Granaries (Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Lothal): Massive storage structures with ventilated passages for surplus grain.
• Assembly Halls and Pillared Halls at Mohenjo-Daro, Kalibangan, indicating social or administrative functions.
4. Domestic Architecture:
• Houses of varying sizes (single-room to multi-storeyed) around courtyards.
• Presence of private wells, bathing areas, and kitchens.
5. Drainage System:
• Covered drains along streets with inspection holes for cleaning.
• Wastewater from houses connected to street drains—an advanced sanitary system.
6. Special Structures:
• Dockyard at Lothal indicating maritime trade.
• Fortifications at sites like Dholavira with gateways and bastions.

Conclusion:
Harappan architecture reveals a highly organized civic life with emphasis on public utility, hygiene, and urban order. The integration of town planning, drainage, and monumental structures marks it as a pioneering model of early urban civilization.

 

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